Cleaning and separating machine.



A. T. HEDFELDT. CLEANING AND SEPABATING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY4, 1903.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

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A. Tf HBDFBLDT.

CLEANING AND SEPARATING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 4, 1 90 3.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911,

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AXEL `T. HEDFELD-T, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, `ASSIGNOI1. TO HEDFEL'DT COMPANY, A

CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CLEANING AND SEPARATING MACHINE.

To a'llfwhom it may concern:

Be it known ithat d, AXEL T. HnnrELD'r, a citi-zenoflthe United States, residing at -Chicago, in Ethe county of Cook and State of illinois, have invented a certain new and usefu'l Improvement in Cleaning and Separating lVIachines, lof which the following `is a specification.

My invention relates to `machinery for dleaning'and separating grain, berries, seeds and f'the like and has for its object to provide certain newand useful'devices'and arrangements and Acombinations of devices whereby the cleaning* process Vmay be carriedon in anleffective manner.

iOne iform of fmy invention, or one device or machine in which my invention is utilized, yis shown in :the accompanying drawings, which is intended to be to a degree diagrammatic and illustrative of the principles 'of my invention, wherein- Figure 1 Xis a :part sectional and part side ele-vation of my Ilmachine, with `the parts shown in ydifferent positions, as indicated in dotted lines; Eig. 2 'is a horizontal section on aline 2-2, Fig. l, with certain parts omitted; F ig. 3 is a detail section of the lower part of the supply hopper; Fig. l is a detailcross section on line lf-1, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal section on line 5-5, Fig. 1.

Likeparts are `indicated by the same letter in all the figures.

A Aare-the various frame pieces on which the several'operative parts are supported.

'B is a supply hopper of any suitable size or shape, 'in this case shown as opening at the floor B1. At its lower end it terminates in a forwardly projecting portion B2 and it contains a shaft "B3, Vwhich carries a drum BL and a series of projecting rods B5. The shaft is provided with a driving pulley BG atoneend and a gearwheel B7 at the other, which latter gear wheel meshes with the gear wheel BS on the shaft Bf', `which carries 'a drum B10 `having grooves B on its outer surface. This drum occupiesthe outer opening of the forwardly projecting portion B2, as indicated in Fig. 3. The several parts are suitably supported on the frame portions.

C is a screen supported by the `flexible straps()1 and these straps areslotted at the upperends, as indicated at C2, and are secured by the set bolts C3, so that the support- Specification of Letters Patent.

Applcatonrled May 4, 1903.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

Serial No. 155,485.

ing straps are `adjustable as to length, to vary the inclination and `position of the screen. This screen has 1side portions C4., so that it forms a sort of troughyand is provided with the inwardly projecting part C5 to direct the -flowof material.

'CG is a shaft, having a driving pulley C1 thereon and the yeccentrics C8 CS, from each of which projects an arm C and this arm is pivotally connected at i010 'tothe lug C on the side portion C associated 'with the screen C. lVhen the shaft C0 is rotated, fthe screen is rocked laterally.

D is a fan, which is preferably mounted on the bast D1, so that `it may be adjusted about the pivot line De, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. I have not shownthe details of this support, but the base of the fan should be detachably secured to its support so that it can be swung into any desired kposition `and lbe there secured. The face oflthesupportwill'bethe-arc of a circle, whose center is the :pivot line D2. Coincident with this pivot line D2 is thecenter of the axle E, which is journaled in the frame pieces A and has secured `to 'it in any desired manner the lower end of the `air-chute E1. Thus, the air-chute is supported so as to be moved about the pivot line D2. At the forward side of the air-chute E1 is secured the Vvertically adjustableextension E2 and at the rear side is secured a similar vertically adjustable extension E, These `extensions are adjusted when the air-chute is moved about its pivot line.

E is a hopper associated with the discharge pipe E and placed so as Ito receive the material which `passes over the end of the screen C. The air-chute E1 iis adjustably supported by means of the rope E passing over the pulley ET and through the eye E8. There is a slot E in the floor yB1 to permit the air-chute to be adjusted as toits angle of inclination.

D3 is a flattened and widened discharge end of the fan, which opens below the screen C and below the open end of the air-ohutelE.

El is an inclined sheet metal diaphragm in the air-chute and its upper end is `connected by a like diaphragm E with `the opening E12 which leads to the chute E, which in turn discharges into the funnel Elf* at the upper end of the discharge -pipe E15, which rests loosely upon the pin El".

F F are screens within the air-chute, pivoted each at the pointF1 and provided each l general way the idea of my invention and with an adjusting device F 2, whereby their angles of inclination may be varied. Each is associated with a screen F 5, which is pivoted at F4 and lies upon the top of the screen F. These screens F3 lead to openings F 5, which are associated with the discharge funnels F G F5, from which lead the pipes F7 FT to the hopper F8, which is open at the bottom and discharges upon the screen F9. rlhis screen, in a manner somewhat similar to the screen C, is supported by the straps F10 adjustably secured by means of the slots F11 and the set screws F12, and it is connected with the shaft C by means of the eccentrics F13 and the rods F14 and the angle-bars F15. The screen of course has side plates F16 to keep the material from falling oill from it.

G G are screens within the air-chute, each hinged at G1 and adjustably supported by the pivoted screw G2 and associated above with a pivoted screen G5, which lies upon the top of the screen G. `The screens G3 lead to openings G4', which are associated each with a funnel-like projection G5, which opens into a pipe GG, which pipes discharge below into any convenient hopper or other place. These pipes GG are kept in position by the pins G7.

J is a xed inclined metal sheet, supported by the hangers Jl J1 and provided with side bar J 2 and projecting up under the edge of the screen F. lts forward end discharges into a receiver, which consists of the two hoppers J 5 J 4, each of which terminates below in a pipe J5 J 6, which pipes are separated by a partition J 7. These pipes J5 and J G can lead to any desired receptacles and the partition J 7 may be adjustable in position.

K is a discharge trough placed beneath rthe screen C and adapted to discharge such material as may pass through the screen.

K1 is a screen which covers the top of the air-chute, to prevent the escape of any material.

K2 is a hopper beneath the screen F, which terminates in the discharge pipe K5.

KL is a driving pulley which drives the moving parts of the fan D. Y

I have shown no driving mechanism, as any convenient motive power can be used.

I will use the word sorting as broadly including both the idea of cleaning and separating. 1n other words, the apparatus can be used for separating undesirable or desirable materials, or for cleaning materials, or for sorting materials which may all of them be useful, but which are mixed together.

It will of course be understood that l do not wish to be limited to the particular form, size or shape of the several parts which 1 have illustrated and described. My drawings are to be taken as diagrammatic in the sense that they are intended to show in a l'. anticipate that any mechanic familiar with the subject matter will easily be able to suggest alterations and variations. For example, the air-chute can be made, ii' desired, very much longer, so that it operates both as a conveyer and a cleaning device. Thus, the devices which 1 have shown as serving to clean might be located far up along the air-chute and the material might be brought in on the screen Aand be driven up the air-chute by a sutliciently strong blast of air and be then separated or cleaned at the upper portion of the air-chute. The angle of inclination of the several parts also may be varied, and indeed must be varied to suit different conditions. The number of openings in the air-chute may be increased or diminished and they may be grouped in a different manner from that here shown.

rlhe essential features, however, of my in` vention are here shown and suggested.

The us-e and operation of my invention are as follows: rlhe Ygrain, seeds, or other material to be cleanedyfelevatedcr treated by my apparatus, is conveniently introduced over the screen C in the manner suggested. lt is stirred up and the parts are separated as far as may be possible by means of the separating hopper B and its associated parts. rlhey are then delivered by the distributing roll or drum B4 over the agitated screen C and here the smaller particles are sifted out and carried away as waste. As the material travels down over the screen, it encounters the air blast just below the air-chute and everything except that which is too heavy to be lifted by the air blast is driven up into the chute. Such heavier material is discharged over the end of the screen into the hopper E4 and carried away as desired. The material is now carried up into the air-chute, being fed upwardly or outwardly according to the shape and angle of inclination of the air-chute, but the parts are so adjusted that when the material rises to a certain point its heavier portions will drop into the first discharge pipe E15. Metal, stone and the like can thus be carried away and there may obviously be more than one of these heavy waste discharge pipes and they may be grouped in any desired manner. the material is free from such heavy particles, it will not be necessary perhaps to use these heavy waste discharge pipes, and in this event the mouth or mouths of such pipes will be temporarily closed. As the material passes up, by the air passing freely through the screens within the air-chute, and as it reaches the screens associated with the discharge pipes, the heavier matter, in this case being grain or material to be cleaned, becomes too heavy and drops into its discharge pipes F7. lty will be observed that the parts are so situated that as the material passes In certain cases, where lalong upwardly in the air-chute, when it gets to the point where gravity overcomes the action of the air, its fall will not take it on down to the bottom of the chute, but into the pipe opening. The movement of the air in the chute is therefore at an angle to the direction of the action from the force of gravity. The discharge pipes F7, and there may be one or more of them in any desired group or arrangement, I call, to distinguish them from the waste pipes, the grain discharge pipes, not meaning thereby to limit their use to any particular material. The material that passes down the grain discharge pipes is discharged upon the agitated screen F9. Any waste material is dropped into the hopper below7 the screen and carried away and the good material passes on to the inclined chute J.

In certain classes of material, there will be found to be two 'classes of grain, those individuals which are flat on one side and those which are comparatively round. It may be necessary to separate these into two classes, and, since the flat portions will be inclined to slide down the chute and the round ones to roll, the latter will move farther than the former, and as indicated in Fig. 1 they can be more or less satisfactorily divided into two classes by adjusting the partition J 7. The lighter materials, usually waste materials, will Continue to move upwardly under the action of t-he air in the airchute and in like manner will be gathered into the light waste discharge pipes Gr6 G. Here again any desired number' and grouping of these pipes may be effected. I have called them waste pipes simply for lack of a better term. The whole series of discharge pipes taken together may be adjusted and arranged so as to adapt themselves to any particular use, that is so as to fit the machine for the treatment of different kinds of material. It might happen that the material to be collected would be the lightest material in the mass, in which event the highest pipes would be the .so-called grain discharge pipes or the pipes for collecting the useful material, and it is for this reason that I have stated above that I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention by the employment of terms which are applicable to particular materials, as is the case with the particular machine here illustrated.

This application relates to`the same subject' matter as that of my co-pending application No. 170,403, tiled August 22, 1903.

I claim:

1. In a device for handling material, the combinat-ion of an air-chute pivotally supported, with a separate air vblast device adapted to discharge into the lower end of the air-chute, and separate adjustable supports for the air chute and the air blast device, whereby they may be moved and both may be brought to a common axis.

2. In a device for sorting material, the combination of an air-chute inclined from the vertical and having an unobstructed passageway for the material therethrough, with a perforated or screen-like diaphragm across and near to its lower end, an air blast device discharging below and through such perforated diaphragm and into the chute, means for conveying material onto the diaphragm below the air-chute so that it will be carried up by the air blast, a series of discharge apertures arranged at intervals along the lower side of the inclined chute and associated with each of said apertures an inwardly projecting device to intercept the material as it falls.

3. In a device for sorting material, the combination of an air-chute inclined fi'om the vertical, with a perforated or screen-like diaphragm across and near to its lower end, an air blast device discharging below and through such perforated diaphragm and into the chute, means for conveying material onto the diaphragm below the air-chute so that the particles thereof will be carried up by the air blast to altitudes proportioned inversely to the weight of such particles, a series of discharge apertures arranged at intei-vals along the lower side of the inclined chute to receive such material as the blast becomes spent, and means for adjusting the angle of inclination of the chute.

4. In a device for sorting material, the combination of an air-chute inclined from the vertical, with a perforated or screen-like diaphragm across and near to its lower end, an air blast device discharging below and through such perforated diaphragm and into the air-chute, means for conveying the material onto the diaphragm so that it will be carried up by the air blast, and a series of discharge apertures arranged at intervals along the lower side of the inclined chute, such discharge apertures associated with inclined perforated screens to contract the cross section of the air-chute in proximity with each of such apertures.

5. In a device for sorting material, the combination of an air chute inclined from the vertical, with a perforated or screen like diaphragm across and near to its lower end, an air blast device discharging through such diaphragm and into the chute, means for conveying material onto the diaphragm so that it will pass into the chute above the air blast device and be carried upward by the blast, a series of discharge apertures arranged at intervals along the lower side of the chute and associated with each of said apertures, an inwardly projecting device having an inclined upper surface conducting to such aperture.

6. In a device for sorting material, the

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combination-.of a straight air'. chute inclined from the vertical, withy a perforated or screen like diaphragm acrossandnear to its lower end, anV air. blastv device discharging through: suchdiaphragm and into the chute,

combination. ofi an. inclined chutel having a free and unobstructed passageway there-- through with an air blast devi'cedischarging into suchchuteat the lower end, means for introducing the material into the chute ina relatively thin film or sheet. transverse tov thex anis of'.rv the chute, a perforated diaphragm. acrosssuch chute.) to y receive such material, a series of discharge apertures at different points along one side of thevchute, and means for-intercepting and conducting the. materialto saiddischarge apertures and a feedinghopper containing a cleaning Vpin roll a-ndla feeding rollat the mouth of the hopper adaptedto discharge onto the screen in thefchute.

8.- Inl a devicefor sorting material, the

eser/o7 r combination of. an. inclined chutelhaving a free and unobstructed passageway therethrough with an air-blast device discharging into such chute at the lower end, meansfor introducing the material into the chute in a` relatively thin filmvor sheet transverse toJ the axis ofv the chute,- a perforated diaphragm across suchl chute to receive such material, a series of= discharge apertures along the lower` side ofthe chute,` and associated therewith intereepting devices, the part of said'chutevalongthe upper inclined wall constituting an uninterrupted passagey way for the materialE andi af feeding hopper containinga cleaningpin roll anda feeding roll at` the'mouth ofi the-hopper adapted t0 discharge onto the screen inthechute.

9. ln a. dev-ice' for'sorting-material, the E combination of an inclined chute with an air blast device discharging into such chute at its lower end, means: for carrying the' material in a thin-film or sheet to the chute in a plane-transverseto itsV a'Xis and above the discharge point of-the air blast` device, a se# ries of discharge apertures atr differentpoints along one side ofthe chute and means for conducting the material to such discharge apertures.

AXEL T. I-IEDFELD'I.v

Witnesses HOMER L. KRAFT, FANNY B. FAY.

Copiesfitlrs.:patent:may beobtaineflor five cents each,l by addressing the Commissioner ofPatents Washington, D. C. 

